A Bag of Love!

Tonight I was visited by Jan Parker and Chris Culver, the art teachers at American Heritage. They brought me a large bag of notes and cards from student, parents, and teachers. They are beautiful words of love, appreciation, and memories of my sweet Earl. We had a lovely visit and these sweet ladies allowed me to reminisce about all of the wonderful things about Earl. It was an enjoyable visit and they shared with me how students, a month after Earl passing, are still having a hard time without him at school. It breaks my heart to know that children are sad. I knew he had made an impact on many children, but I am just beginning to understand how big that impact was.

Lessons from Earl

These are the "Lessons from Earl" that I shared at his funeral this week.

Lessons from Earl:

• Smile. Earl was always uncomfortable with his smile, which can be seen in the fact that it is so hard to find pictures of him. But we all have a memory of his smile. Earl was known for his smile. I guess this is why the young children at the school nicknamed him Mr. Smiley. 

• Leave the past, in the past. We all have things that have hurt us, or feel bad about things we may have done in the past. Earl had a hard childhood. Over the years I watched him put that in the past and live in the moment.

• Work hard. Earl has never been comfortable sitting and not doing. In his early years he was invited to join scouts at a later age than most young men, he he joined in with a zest for the program and became an Eagle Scout. In his job, He went full-steam ahead in life, doing everything he could to provide for us as a family and provide for others. Earl never liked to leave a project unfinished. Often I would be ready to quit and Earl would continue on. There were many times shortly after we bought the house that Earl would work late into the night finishing the latest part of the remodel. Earl worked hard so we could play hard.

• Don’t break character. Earl never wavered in his testimony of the gospel. While he was not good at sharing it vocally, or over the pulpit, he lived a life that showed he understood the plan of salvation, while he morned when people passed, he didn’t fear death. Earl always expressed a firm belief that we will live with our Heavenly Father and our families again. Earl lived his testimony each day in the choices he made and the way he conducted himself.

• Be observant, there are opportunities to help along the way. I cannot count the times Earl and I would be walking in the parking lot of a store to find that Earl was no longer next to me. He was putting groceries into the trunk of someone else car who looked overwhelmed. At school he was known for opening doors, especially for teachers with hands full of supplies.  

• Be a friend. In his childhood, Earl did not have very many friends, yet he learned over the years what it meant to be a friend and was truly the best friend to so many. Weather you were 5 or 75, Earl was your friend. He has an uncanny knack for remembering names and the interesting things about people. Earl loved people for who they were. He wanted those around him to feel valued and important while always trying to stay in the background in a supporting role. 

• Love children. Earl has had the privilege of working at America Heritage over the last 4 years in a place where he can show love and lift spirits. So many messages of love have come to me through the week that remind me how much he loved every child. Every child matters because we are all children of God. Earl understood this and loved all with Christlike love. Earl rarely spent time with the adults at gatherings. He preferred the children. He showed them all the love he had to offer, and there is always enough of that to go around.

• Love unconditionally. So many times Earl reminding me when we’re all a little weird, a little different and have our own quirks, and that we need to accept people for who they are. Earl always withheld judgement and found ways to love everyone. He showed his loved through service to those around him. And he loved me. Oh how he loved me. I knew it every day I was with him and will forever be  blessed and changed by his love.